CENTER DIRECTOR

IF YOU ARE HIRED PROVISIONALLY IN THIS TITLE, YOU MUST TAKE AND PASS THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAM, WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.

Family Independence Administration (FIA) provides temporary help to individuals and families with social service and economic needs to assist them in reaching self-sufficiency via essential and diverse programs/services, such as: temporary cash assistance, SNAP, childcare, eviction prevention services, adult protective services, job training, employment plans/support, domestic violence assistance, child support enforcement, etc.

Under the direction of the Deputy Regional Managers, with great latitude for the exercise of independent action and initiative, the Job Center Director is responsible for the overall administration and functioning of the FIA Job Center to assist public assistance recipients to achieve their highest level of self-reliance by providing a continuum of services, including Public Assistance (PA) and food stamp benefits, job search, and other related services targeted to this population.

This position is interchangeable and is utilized in any FIA Job Center/Model Office location or specialized FIA Job Center/Model Office location which includes, but is not limited to, the Family Services Call Center, Union Square Job Center, Refugee Job Center, and Residential Treatment Services Center.

The Family Independence Administration (FIA) is recruiting for one (1) Administrative Job Opportunity Specialist NM II, to function as Job Center Director, who will:

• Direct the on-site management, planning and monitoring of all activities that contribute to the timely delivery of varied public assistance to eligible persons/families by ensuring that the expenditure of public funds through the public assistance programs is in conformity with Federal and State laws and all relevant Agency policies; ensures compliance with mandated signage being properly displayed.
• Oversee the activities of the various program components of the Family Independence Administration Job Centers/Model Offices which includes, but is not limited to, the Family Services Call Center, Union Square Job Center, Refugee Job Center, and Residential Treatment Services Center; the latter of which are designed to facilitate service delivery to specialized populations in order to minimize wait time and assist participants in achieving maximum self-sufficiency.
• Direct the Job Center’s efforts in implementing Welfare Reform, which mandates that all able-bodied recipients participate in appropriate work-related activities, that all barriers that prevent self-sufficiency are overcome and that the Agency's goal to meet the Federal participation rate is met; maintain a direct relationship with Back-To-Work employment vendors in an effort to assist participants obtain/retain employment and become self-sufficient.
• Direct Recertification activities in a timely manner and in compliance with all City, State and Federal mandates by assisting staff in providing services that are consistent with Agency standards, while upholding the dignity of the participants served and ensuring positive relationships are maintained with community organizations and elected officials within the Center's geographical area.
• Supervise and provide technical support and training to the Deputy Directors in the application function/recertification functions of public assistance/food stamp grants; act as the principal representative and spokesperson of the Job Center in meetings with the Mayor’s Office, community groups, City, State and Federal agencies; respond to service complaints in a timely and accurate manner.
• Oversee the daily operation of the Job Center/Model Office which involves overall case management functions that include screening, referral, provision of appropriate public assistance benefits, advocacy, and coordination of all Human Resources Administration (HRA) and provider services.
• Determine training needs of Job Center staff; oversee planning and development of comprehensive training programs of staff development; monitor and evaluate training curriculum to ensure that agency and program goals are met; monitor staff’s attendance at training; assess the effectiveness of training; manage all staff development initiatives.
• Develop and monitor productivity enhancement protocols related to eligibility screening, participation in work related activities, comprehensive data collection and case record coordination; analyze major problems and prepares management reports recommending solutions/corrective actions to meet Agency goals.
• Direct and monitor the Fair Hearing process; improve the Fair Hearing Win rate which measures whether Job Center actions are successfully upheld by providing supervision and leadership to center employees; work closely with supervisory staff to ensure that services are provided appropriately and in a timely manner and ensure timely compliance with Fair Hearing decisions.
• Manage the Center's performance goals and submit operating and performance reports in accordance with prescribed assignments to the Regional Manager; direct development and preparation of management reports that summarize, highlight, and analyze fluctuations in Center activities/performance; recommend, implement, and monitor corrective actions, where problems are discerned.
• Coordinate the Center’s Job Stat presentations; hold monthly Center Stat meetings and utilize these sessions to improve the Center’s overall performance.

Hours/Shift: 8:30am – 5:00pm

Minimum Qualifications

Qualification Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, plus four years of satisfactory full-time experience performing work related to providing employment related services or economic support services to persons in need, at least eighteen months of this experience must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity; or
• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and eight years of full-time experience equivalent to "1" above; at least eighteen months of this experience must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity; or
• Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. College credits from an accredited college or university may be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 semester credits for one year; year of work experience. However, all candidates must have at least a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and at least eighteen months of experience must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity as described in "1" above.

Preferred Skills

• Well Organized
• Excellent Communication Skills (verbal and written)
• Knowledge of Cash Assistance Processes
• Superior Leadership/Supervisory Skills
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced deadline driven environment

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position

Additional Information

The Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services offers competitive salaries and the following benefits: Generous Pension Plans (The New York Employees' Retirement System); 401(k) and 457 Roth's Retirement Savings Programs; U.S. Savings Bonds Flexible Spending Program; Health Benefits, Dental, Vision Coverage, Prescription Drug Program; Training and Professional Development; Opportunity for Scholarship; College Savings Program; Paid Holidays and Generous Annual Leave;